IPL 2022 has started and it has been a massive week for all the cricket lovers. It has been an exhilarating week for us, with the world’s best in action. Some of the well-known domestic players are also making their mark, while many unknown faces are taking to IPL as fish takes to water.
There are many youngsters who are playing their first or second IPL: some are from tier 3 cities with humble backgrounds and very little Ranji experience while many are direct from under-19 teams. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase their talent on the world’s biggest stage.
While there are many youngsters who deserve our mention, we have selected the five most promising that we feel, will be most brilliant to watch:
Umran Malik:
Hailing from J&K [Umran Malik], barely 22 years, is the find of IPL. He hasn’t even played a full IPL, but he’s already in the news. Retained by SRH, Umran was very impressive in the first game and was one of the few bowlers who were able to stamp their authority against the rampant Rajasthan Royals(RR). In spite of limited experience, he is brilliant at death and likes to intimidate even the best with his searing pace. In his short career, he has shown remarkable consistency and clocks more than 150 KMPH at his will. If he goes on like this, he would only be the second cricketer after Pervez Rasool to play for India, and who wouldn’t want that?
Ayush Badoni:
Ayush Badoni is barely 5′ 6″ but he makes even the tallest bowlers in the park look small. Such was his innings against Gujrat Titans, that even Harsha Bhogle fell short of words to express which may have opened the floodgates for more and we won’t be complaining either. Hailing from Delhi, Ayush was the pick of the batsmen from both sides, looked calm in the crease, and was able to pace the innings tremendously. He came in, at a very precarious situation but took them to a very respectable total with Deepak Hooda. LSG did fail to cross the line, but it was surely the sign of many more such innings from Ayush.
Abhinav Manohar:
Another player: who was unknown till a week ago, is in the limelight for all the right reasons. From Karnataka, Abhinav has all the qualities of becoming a batting all-rounder, which India has been looking for a long time. His brief cameo against LSG may have left us wanting more, but he was able to mark his presence as well as take his team home. Abhinav’s price tag of 2.6 crores was nearly thirteen times his base price, but it is looking like a bargain for GT already.
Abhinav’s price tag of 2.6 crores was nearly thirteen times his base price, but it is looking like a bargain for GT already.
Abdul Samad:
Abdul Samad like Umran Malik hails from J&K. Signed by SRH in 2020, he came into reckoning with his brilliant strokeplay. Such has been his repertoire, that he has been commended by the greats of the game like Kane Williamson and Hayden. He doesn’t get the chance to bowl his leg-spin often, but it’s another aspect of his play that’s the gold standard. Abdul Samad has the dream of playing for India, and we hope he does that very soon.
Kamlesh Nagarkoti:
Kamlesh may not look like an express-fast bowler, but he can easily clock 150Km/h plus and is a brilliant fielder too. Honed by KKR in his growing-up years, multiple injuries have hampered his progress extensively but with the new franchise, Delhi Capitals, and a bit of luck: Kamlesh would be hoping for a better IPL this time. There are very few fast bowlers who could bowl as fast as him, it does seem odd that he hasn’t scaled as one would have liked, but with a brand new season, and time on his side, Kamlesh would be hoping to check most of the boxes to represent India.
IPL Season 15 is definitely going to be exciting! Every match is going to be cutthroat with such amazing youngsters and experienced players playing as one. Along with this, these players are also going to get some fangirls to watch their game.
